Neill signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Galatasaray for an undisclosed fee. He joined winger Harry Kewell to become the second Australian on the Galatasaray team.The 31-year-old defender, who is a right back and can also play in the center back position, rejected a one-year contract extension with Premier League side West Ham at the end of last season and moved to Everton as a free agent.
It had been reported that Galatasaray had tabled a bid of 800,000 pounds to Everton for Neill’s services only a few months after he joined the Merseyside club on a free transfer.
Neill, also the captain of the Australian national team, made 12 appearances with Everton this season.
In October 1996, Neill became the second-youngest player after Kewell to debut for the Australian national team when he played in a friendly game against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, aged 18 years and 7 months. He also competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney with the Australian men’s team, the Olyroos.
On Sept. 28, 2009, Neill was a victim of burglars who were targeting the homes of Premier League players. Neill was at home when thieves broke in and stole some of his belongings, including his keys, before driving off in his car, which was found soon thereafter.
